Media forces drug firm to act
By Lydia Chen |
June 9, 2011, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MEDIA exposure of environmental contamination has forced Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Co to reduce or even stop production until the company take steps to solve the problem.
The drug maker admitted in a statement to the Shanghai Stock Exchange that it has "problems" in discharging waste water and incineration of industrial wastes.
It agreed to cut back on production until its water processing system, which has been under repair since March, becomes operational in the middle of this month.
It also pledged to build a new water processing pond to ensure its waste water does not harm the environment while a new project will be launched this year to improve the air quality around the factory.
The authorities are now reassessing environment problems near the factory and the results will be released soon, the firm added.
The statement was the first response by the second biggest Chinese drug maker by market value after a program aired on China Central Television on Sunday alleged that emissions from the company's factory in northeastern China contained hydrogen sulfide levels more than 1,000 times the permitted amount, causing serious water, land and air contamination for years.
The colorless but poisonous and flammable gas, which has a strong odor similar to rotten eggs, forced people in or near the factory to wear masks, while residents living nearby had to keep their windows closed.
The gas, the result of the production of penicillin at the factory in Harbin in northwest China was released into the air without any processing. In addition to the foul smell, hydrogen sulfide can cause headache, eye irritation, sore throat, cough and nausea, although it most seriously affects the nervous system.
Waste from the production of penicillin was also released into a nearby creek, causing the water to turn yellow.
A makeshift incinerator was also found alongside the creek bank, with garbage, unwanted drugs, leftover chemical raw materials, hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid burning inside and releasing fumes into the air.
Local residents have been tormented by the problems for years despite the firm's claim that it has invested over 30 million yuan (US$4.63 million) on environment work since 2004.
Peng Xu, an official with the Harbin environment authority, said the firm will move its penicillin facility to a remote place and adopt new technology to solve the problem.
The drug maker admitted in a statement to the Shanghai Stock Exchange that it has "problems" in discharging waste water and incineration of industrial wastes.
It agreed to cut back on production until its water processing system, which has been under repair since March, becomes operational in the middle of this month.
It also pledged to build a new water processing pond to ensure its waste water does not harm the environment while a new project will be launched this year to improve the air quality around the factory.
The authorities are now reassessing environment problems near the factory and the results will be released soon, the firm added.
The statement was the first response by the second biggest Chinese drug maker by market value after a program aired on China Central Television on Sunday alleged that emissions from the company's factory in northeastern China contained hydrogen sulfide levels more than 1,000 times the permitted amount, causing serious water, land and air contamination for years.
The colorless but poisonous and flammable gas, which has a strong odor similar to rotten eggs, forced people in or near the factory to wear masks, while residents living nearby had to keep their windows closed.
The gas, the result of the production of penicillin at the factory in Harbin in northwest China was released into the air without any processing. In addition to the foul smell, hydrogen sulfide can cause headache, eye irritation, sore throat, cough and nausea, although it most seriously affects the nervous system.
Waste from the production of penicillin was also released into a nearby creek, causing the water to turn yellow.
A makeshift incinerator was also found alongside the creek bank, with garbage, unwanted drugs, leftover chemical raw materials, hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid burning inside and releasing fumes into the air.
Local residents have been tormented by the problems for years despite the firm's claim that it has invested over 30 million yuan (US$4.63 million) on environment work since 2004.
Peng Xu, an official with the Harbin environment authority, said the firm will move its penicillin facility to a remote place and adopt new technology to solve the problem.
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